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Cygnus X-2 
Special Collaborator
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Joined: December 24 2004
Location: Bucketheadland
Status: Offline
Points: 21342
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 Posted: April 14 2009 at 11:03 |
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I guess I'm in a minority of dedicated Zappa fans who actually don't like this album all that much (aside from Cocaine Decisions and SEX)... whodathunkit?
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UMUR
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: October 19 2007
Location: Denmark
Status: Offline
Points: 3073
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Posted: April 14 2009 at 06:28 |
 jammun wrote:
The sprechstimme (yep that's the word) on Man From Utopia tests the patience of even the most ardent Zappa fan, or at least this one. |
 yep a lot of people gets completely turned off by the meltdown songs but there are only two of them on The Man from Utopia. I enjoy them now but didnīt when I was first introduced to them. There are a lot of other great songs on The Man from Utopia though. I find it a very recommendable purchase. Maybe not the first album you should buy if youīre new to Zappa but not one you shold miss if youīre a fan either.
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npjnpj
Forum Senior Member
Joined: December 05 2007
Location: Germany
Status: Offline
Points: 2720
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Posted: April 14 2009 at 05:34 |
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Zappa himself refered to 'Sprechstimme' as 'Meltdown', a very apt discrition, I find.
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WalterDigsTunes
Forum Senior Member
Joined: September 11 2007
Location: SanDiegoTijuana
Status: Offline
Points: 4373
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Posted: April 13 2009 at 23:10 |
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In the past two days, I've played Hot Rats twice, Waka/Jaka three times and I'm currently playing the Lather box.
I think that says a bit about how I feel about Uncle Frank.
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progkidjoel
Prog Reviewer
Joined: March 02 2009
Location: Australia
Status: Offline
Points: 19643
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Posted: April 13 2009 at 22:53 |
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I quite like Zappa...
Sometime in the next two weeks, Zappa Plays Zappa (Dweebil Zappa, Frank's Son) Is playing at the Blues Festival.
That in Sydney AUS, I might go.
But yeah Zappa is quite good.
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jammun
Prog Reviewer
Joined: July 14 2007
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 3449
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Posted: April 13 2009 at 22:49 |
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The sprechstimme (yep that's the word) on Man From Utopia tests the patience of even the most ardent Zappa fan, or at least this one.
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Can you tell me where we're headin'?
Lincoln County Road or Armageddon.
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Cygnus X-2
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: December 24 2004
Location: Bucketheadland
Status: Offline
Points: 21342
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Posted: April 13 2009 at 20:04 |
zappaholic wrote:
Dr Clovenhoof wrote:
I love Hot Rats and Apostrophe, but find the rest a bit variable. I'm currently listening to an album called 'Man from Utopia' which is stretching my usually elastic wierdness threshold a bit too far. Has anyone heard this one and if so does it grow on you? |
Call me crazy, but I think it's underrated as hell. "Cocaine Decisions" is one of my favorite songs of his.
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That's just about the only really good song on the album, though... The Jazz Discharge Party Hats, though... not very pretty. 
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zappaholic
Forum Senior Member
Joined: March 24 2006
Location: flyover country
Status: Offline
Points: 2822
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Posted: April 13 2009 at 19:52 |
Dr Clovenhoof wrote:
I love Hot Rats and Apostrophe, but find the rest a bit variable. I'm currently listening to an album called 'Man from Utopia' which is stretching my usually elastic wierdness threshold a bit too far. Has anyone heard this one and if so does it grow on you? |
Call me crazy, but I think it's underrated as hell. "Cocaine Decisions" is one of my favorite songs of his.
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"Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard." -- H.L. Mencken
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A B Negative
Forum Senior Member
Joined: May 02 2006
Location: Methil Republic
Status: Offline
Points: 1594
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Posted: April 13 2009 at 12:20 |
Dr Clovenhoof wrote:
I love Hot Rats and Apostrophe, but find the rest a bit variable. I'm currently listening to an album called 'Man from Utopia' which is stretching my usually elastic wierdness threshold a bit too far. Has anyone heard this one and if so does it grow on you? |
That's the one with The Dangerous Kitchen? Doubling the vocal parts on guitar is very clever but nearly as annoying as doing it on marimba (see previous posts). 
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"The disgusting stink of a too-loud electric guitar.... Now, that's my idea of a good time."
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Dr Clovenhoof
Forum Newbie
Joined: April 13 2009
Location: Manchester, UK
Status: Offline
Points: 23
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Posted: April 13 2009 at 12:16 |
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I love Hot Rats and Apostrophe, but find the rest a bit variable. I'm currently listening to an album called 'Man from Utopia' which is stretching my usually elastic wierdness threshold a bit too far. Has anyone heard this one and if so does it grow on you?
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Existence is no advantage!
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A B Negative
Forum Senior Member
Joined: May 02 2006
Location: Methil Republic
Status: Offline
Points: 1594
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Posted: April 13 2009 at 05:51 |
I've nothing against the instruments, just the way they're used in Zappa's music.
I like the way Steve Reich or Pierre Moerlen use tuned percussion but the way it's used in Zappa's music irritates me.
Not a big fan of TFK...
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"The disgusting stink of a too-loud electric guitar.... Now, that's my idea of a good time."
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darkshade
Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: November 19 2005
Location: New Jersey
Status: Offline
Points: 10964
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Posted: April 12 2009 at 18:59 |
A B Negative wrote:
darkshade wrote:
A B Negative wrote:
My opinion? I'd like Zappa's music more without the marimba/vibraphone. |
hmm.. how come? it kinda helps give it the trademark Zappa sound. its basically all over his discography
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It's overdone and incredibly annoying. It's the reason I only have a couple of Zappa albums. |
i think you're the only one i can think of that has complained about Zappa's use of marimba and vibes  especially since it's not a regularly used instrument in non-orchestral music, not to mention had a big effect on later bands like TFK
Edited by darkshade - April 12 2009 at 19:00
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ExittheLemming
Forum Senior Member
Joined: October 19 2007
Location: Penal Colony
Status: Offline
Points: 11420
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Posted: April 12 2009 at 10:05 |
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I find myself being very picky with the irreverent moustachiod one, but do enjoy 'Hot Rats' and 'One Size Fits All' unreservedly. The orchestral material I just find irritating and there are way too many instances of Zappa's puerile humour that spoil some otherwise very fine music. e.g 'Lumpy Gravy' never gets a spin anymore on the Lemming hi-fi just because of the adolescent dialogue that intersperses the tracks (Shame)
Edited by ExittheLemming - April 12 2009 at 10:06
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Slartibartfast
Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator / In Memoriam
Joined: April 29 2006
Location: Atlantais
Status: Offline
Points: 29630
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Posted: April 12 2009 at 09:58 |
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Anyone else out there get started with Bongo Fury?
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Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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A B Negative
Forum Senior Member
Joined: May 02 2006
Location: Methil Republic
Status: Offline
Points: 1594
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Posted: April 12 2009 at 08:22 |
darkshade wrote:
A B Negative wrote:
My opinion? I'd like Zappa's music more without the marimba/vibraphone. |
hmm.. how come? it kinda helps give it the trademark Zappa sound. its basically all over his discography
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It's overdone and incredibly annoying. It's the reason I only have a couple of Zappa albums.
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"The disgusting stink of a too-loud electric guitar.... Now, that's my idea of a good time."
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jammun
Prog Reviewer
Joined: July 14 2007
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 3449
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Posted: April 11 2009 at 16:35 |
UMUR wrote:
darkshade wrote:
A B Negative wrote:
My opinion? I'd like Zappa's music more without the marimba/vibraphone. |
hmm.. how come? it kinda helps give it the trademark Zappa sound. its basically all over his discography
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Yep itīs one of the biggests assets in his music to us hardcore fans ( At least to me). |
Yes indeed, we're talking Ruth Underwood here, and I will not accept any dissing of Ruth (Chester's thing, on Ruth).
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Can you tell me where we're headin'?
Lincoln County Road or Armageddon.
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The Quiet One
Prog Reviewer
Joined: January 16 2008
Location: Argentina
Status: Offline
Points: 15745
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Posted: April 11 2009 at 12:37 |
SgtPepper67 wrote:
I still can't get into Zappa. I downloaded four of his albums: We're only in it for the money, Hot rats, The grand wazoo and Apostrophe. Hot rats it's ok, but it doesn't really move me. I kinda like some stuff on We're only in it for the money because of the 60's sound, but the way he sings and the lyrics, are they supposed to be funny or what? It seems so but I don't get it. Plus I can't stand all those awfull wierd non sense noises between each song. I didn't pay too much attention to the other two albums and I think I've only heard them once, or maybe I couldn't even finished the first listen.
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If you enjoy Jazz Rock, you should definitely pay more attention to Hot Rats and The Grand Wazoo. If you don't, get Over-Nite Sensation and('or' in your case) One Size Fits All, they're in Musimundo for 33$(pesos). They're awesome, they won't click you at first, well, not to everyone, but if you start getting into any of those, then you'll love it all.
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UMUR
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: October 19 2007
Location: Denmark
Status: Offline
Points: 3073
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Posted: April 11 2009 at 12:21 |
SgtPepper67 wrote:
I still can't get into Zappa. I downloaded four of his albums: We're only in it for the money, Hot rats, The grand wazoo and Apostrophe. Hot rats it's ok, but it doesn't really move me. I kinda like some stuff on We're only in it for the money because of the 60's sound, but the way he sings and the lyrics, are they supposed to be funny or what? It seems so but I don't get it. Plus I can't stand all those awfull wierd non sense noises between each song. I didn't pay too much attention to the other two albums and I think I've only heard them once, or maybe I couldn't even finished the first listen.
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Well Iīm not sure Zappaīs music is meant to move you ( at least if you mean in the way Genesis or any other emotional music is meant to move you). Itīs meant to make you think.
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UMUR
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: October 19 2007
Location: Denmark
Status: Offline
Points: 3073
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Posted: April 11 2009 at 12:16 |
darkshade wrote:
A B Negative wrote:
My opinion? I'd like Zappa's music more without the marimba/vibraphone. |
hmm.. how come? it kinda helps give it the trademark Zappa sound. its basically all over his discography
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Yep itīs one of the biggests assets in his music to us hardcore fans ( At least to me).
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darkshade
Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: November 19 2005
Location: New Jersey
Status: Offline
Points: 10964
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Posted: April 11 2009 at 11:38 |
A B Negative wrote:
My opinion? I'd like Zappa's music more without the marimba/vibraphone. |
hmm.. how come? it kinda helps give it the trademark Zappa sound. its basically all over his discography
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Frank Zappa, opinions?
